Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The feasibility of the RS for the clinical diagnosis of thyroid tumours was explored. METHODS: The tumour specimens from 30 benign patients and 30 malignant patients were collected. The collected specimens were subjected to RS and histopathological analysis. The Raman peak intensities of all the specimens were calculated, and the data were analysed using discriminant analysis. RESULTS: (1) The prevalence rate of malignant tumours in females was as high as 76.7%. Central lymph node metastasis of malignant thyroid tumours accounted for 33.3% of cases, and lateral cervical lymph node metastasis accounted for only 6.7%. (2) The spectral intensity of malignant thyroid tumours was significantly greater than benign thyroid tumours at 1309 cm(-1), which should be the characteristic peak of thyroid cancer. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the RS for differentiating benign from malignant thyroid tumours were 95%, 83.3% and 89.2%. CONCLUSION: RS is feasible for the diagnosis of thyroid tumours. This study provides experimental and clinical support for the wider application of RS in the evaluation of thyroid tissue. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Levels 4.